WELLINGTON -- New Zealand's domestic travel sector showed tentative signs of recovery in the year to the end of March, offsetting a continued decrease in spending by international travelers, the Ministry of Economic Development announced Tuesday.

The ministry's Domestic Travel Survey of 15,000 New Zealand residents showed business travel expenditure was up by 10 percent to 2.8 billion NZ dollars (2.29 billion U.S. dollars) in the year to March, compared with the previous year, said a statement from the ministry.

Overall New Zealanders spent an estimated 3 percent more on domestic travel than the year before, compared with a 6-percent drop in spending by international visitors over the same period.

In total, domestic travelers spent 9 billion NZ dollars, the second highest amount recorded, although overnight trips decreased slightly, said the statement.

While business travelers and those visiting friends and family spent more, expenditure of domestic holidaymakers dropped by 2.4 percent.

The statement said that could be attributed to New Zealand traveling abroad as surveys had shown a 5-percent increase in New Zealanders taking holidays overseas.

Travelers took a total of 15.7 million overnight trips and 29.8 million day trips, spending 48.4 million nights away from home, an average of three nights per overnight trip.

They spent almost 200 NZ dollars per trip, with business travelers spending the most with 235 NZ dollars per trip.

"Many firms in the tourism industry are suffering at the moment, with impacts from the Christchurch earthquake, the recent ash cloud, and a late start to the ski season," said Peter Ellis, tourism research and evaluation manager at the ministry.

"The fact that domestic tourism is consolidating its recovery from a slight low point during 2010 is good news for the sector. This is taking place despite high petrol prices and a strong dollar encouraging trips abroad.

"While some of the increased spending is on transport due to higher petrol prices, we know that domestic tourists are spending more than a year ago on recreation as well as gifts and souvenirs. "